By Themba Khoza
Water infrastructure vandalism is one of the main challenges facing the country in relation to reliable water supply to communities. This negatively affects the socio-economic development of communities.
Access to water is a basic human right and the vandalism of water infrastructure denies some communities access to water. Water infrastructure vandalism is a crime as it cuts off water supply to communities and denies people access to the source of life.
Water infrastructure vandalism results in water wastage and leads to leaks in the water supply system, leading to major water losses, which we cannot afford as a water scarce country.
It must be understood that any illegal tampering with the water infrastructure is vandalism and affects the effectiveness of that infrastructure, leaving communities without reliable water supply.
Illegal connections lead to the loss of pressure in pipelines leaving other communities, especially those in high lying areas without water supply. Illegal connections are one form of vandalism that can be avoided if we all become responsible members of the community.
No matter how angry we are, we must never tamper or vandalise water infrastructure as this has serious negative implications for water supply for society and economic developments. We must never vandalise infrastructure during protests because after the protests we still need the infrastructure and services.
Infrastructure vandalism is the work of thugs, so let us be responsible and prevent the destruction of our water infrastructure.
There is no life without water and water has no substitute, so let us make every drop count by protecting and preventing water infrastructure vandalism in our communities.
Khoza is the Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson.
The Star